فصلنامه آمایش محیط
پیاپی 63 (زمستان 1402)

Housing, a pivotal structural element shaping urban environments, serves as a reflection of governmental attitudes in policy and planning. The extensive experience gained over decades through diverse policies, including government programs and urban-rural development projects in Iran, emphasizes its central role. This study aims to propose an effective policy for enhancing housing quality. The theoretical segment synthesizes principles from participatory planning, sustainable development, and the boom-axis. Employing a qualitative approach, the research utilizes the Grounded Theory (GRANDAD THEORY) for data collection and analysis. Fifteen in-depth interviews with knowledgeable elites on the subject constitute the primary data source, conducted through exploratory and descriptive phases. Subsequent to each interview, coding of the data ensued, employing the continuous comparison method across open, axial, and selective coding stages. The analysis revealed an optimal model for housing quality improvement with eight key components: effective policy design mechanisms, development plans, financial frameworks, institutional-legal structures, transparent regulatory mechanisms, educational initiatives targeting academic and popular elites, cultural mechanisms, and mechanisms for restructuring the housing framework. The establishment of a model to enhance housing quality is contingent upon the dynamic interaction with these identified mechanisms.

Factors contributing to increased life expectancy and a low fertility rate, leading to an aging population, were initially observed in the developed countries during the mid-20th century and are now extending to developing nations. Given the impending consequences of the aging crisis in our country, research on aging is of paramount importance. Notably, the relationship between the presence of the elderly in the community and the concept of age-friendly communities is crucial. This study aims to identify factors influencing age-friendly communities and elucidate theories regarding the presence of the elderly in the community, with a specific focus on aging in place. Employing a qualitative approach, this research utilizes grounded theory within the framework of the Strauss and Corbin methodology. The research data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with 31 individuals aged 60 and over, selected from two-day care centers: Rangin Kaman Sepid, Bozorgan Sahebdel, and Kolbeye Noor in Isfahan, continuing until theoretical saturation was achieved. The study highlights that the contextual condition for an age-friendly community is the residence of the elderly in their respective neighborhoods. According to the findings, the creation of an age-friendly community is fostered by the connection between the community and the elderly in everyday situations, adapting to their needs and enabling aging in place. This involves interactive contexts related to event orientation, leisure, socialization, and neighborhood accessibility for the elderly, providing opportunities for self-expression and social support.

A comprehensive and multifaceted perspective is imperative for examining natural hazards in contemporary societies, particularly within urban settings. This viewpoint encompasses considerations related to natural disasters, fault boundaries, unsustainable construction practices, deteriorating structures, the encroachment of settlements onto slopes, disregard for river boundaries in urban areas, and construction without due consideration for privacy. A thorough scientific and specialized investigation is essential to mitigate the consequential adverse financial and life impacts. Additionally, effective urban and regional management necessitates meticulous planning. The city of Poldokhtar, situated in Lorestan province and within the Kashkan flood basin, possesses the potential to induce floods owing to a myriad of natural and human factors. To prevent the recurrence of such incidents, proactive measures are imperative. These include not only research studies but also structural and mechanical interventions grounded in the natural environment. Furthermore, integrated management, skills training, and attention to the interconnectivity of infrastructures during emergencies are vital. Coordination and collaboration between public and private entities demand particular emphasis. The research, aligning with applied-developmental goals and employing an analytical-library method, seeks to contribute to the comprehensive understanding and effective management of natural hazards.

The concept of Knowledge-Based Urban Development (KBUD) is gaining popularity among urban scholars, emerging as a focal point of research interest that connects planners, economists, geographers, and other social scientists. This study delves into the KBUD features of Qazvin, tracing its journey towards becoming a knowledge city. With its universities, knowledge workers, and knowledge industries, Qazvin boasts a high capacity and potential for knowledge city status. The study explores the critical connections between Qazvin’s sources, internal capabilities, and KBUD. Utilizing qualitative content analysis, data were collected from documentaries, libraries, affiliate organizations in Qazvin, and the statistical agency. Experimental data were gathered through a survey employing the Delphi method. Meta-SWOT and PESTEL analyses were applied to process information and formulate KBUD strategies. While Qazvin possesses the foundations for a knowledge city, it exhibits deficiencies in various indicators. The research findings highlight Qazvin’s abundant sources and internal capabilities, such as the Science and Technology Park, KBUD vision, knowledge workers, and the creative class, which play invaluable roles in the city’s development as a knowledge hub. Conversely, weaknesses in urban research and development, coupled with economic downturns, pose significant barriers and threats to this endeavor.

The objective of this research is to examine the bidirectional relationship between house prices and house rental prices in Iran from the first quarter of 2002 to the fourth quarter of 2019. Granger causality tests and the bootstrap approach of quantile regression, specifically employing the MCMB-A Method, are utilized for the investigation. The results of the Granger causality test indicate a two-way causal relationship between house prices and house rental prices. The bootstrap method of quantile regression reveals that, across all deciles, house rental prices exert a significant positive impact on house prices. Notably, the coefficient of house rental prices exhibits an increasing trend from the first to the sixth decile, reaching its maximum value in the sixth decile, and subsequently decreasing from the seventh to the ninth decile. Additionally, across all deciles, house prices demonstrate a significant positive impact on house rental prices. Throughout the deciles, the coefficient of house prices experiences a decreasing trend from the first to the fourth decile, reaching its lowest value in the fourth decile, followed by an increasing trend from the fifth decile to the ninth decile, reaching its maximum value in the ninth decile.

Mental health disorders pose a significant threat to human well-being, particularly affecting urban populations. Despite the paramount importance of addressing urban mental health, effective strategies for improvement remain elusive. This concern has garnered heightened significance in Tehran, a city with a pressing need for viable solutions. This research aims to identify key strategies to enhance the mental health of the city. Employing a descriptive-analytical research method, the study utilizes content analysis and structural analysis to pinpoint crucial solutions. The findings reveal that three primary strategies — the formulation and execution of a comprehensive mental health plan, the integration of aesthetically pleasing urban design to promote mental well-being, and the adoption of innovative approaches such as mobile health programs and online services — are deemed pivotal variables. Consequently, the implementation of these solutions holds the potential to significantly enhance urban mental health in Tehran.

The significance of assessing livability lies in its capacity to unveil the economic, social, and environmental characteristics of a region. In this descriptive-analytical research, the focus is on investigating the subjective dimension of livability in Kermanshah metropolis. Employing a survey method based on a questionnaire, the sample size of 384 people was determined using the Cochran method, with samples selected based on the population of each region. After confirming the validity and reliability of the questionnaire, citizens' responses were entered into SPSS21 software to calculate the average of each index in the regions. The indicators were weighted using the Shannon entropy method. Livability status in the urban regions of Kermanshah was then examined using planning techniques such as TOPSIS, VIKOR, and SAW. Given the different ranking results provided by these techniques, the research employed the method of percentage and intensity of changes to identify the most suitable technique for measuring and ranking livability. Results reveal that, according to TOPSIS and VIKOR techniques, livability in most metropolitan regions of Kermanshah is unfavorable, with only region 5 deemed suitable. Conversely, the SAW technique evaluates the livability as favorable. Through the change percentage method, it was determined that the TOPSIS technique is more suitable for ranking and measuring the livability of Kermanshah metropolis. The research concludes with suggestions for enhancing the livability of Kermanshah metropolis.

In contemporary time, commercial spaces are increasingly considered quasi-public spaces, acquiring cultural significance as a social ground for youth to shape their identity. As a result, youth emerge as a pivotal demographic influencing both public and quasi-public spaces, highlighting the imperative for city planners to prioritize the creation of engaging environments for this age group. The present study aims to explore the factors influencing the environmental preferences of contemporary commercial spaces from the youth perspective, with a specific focus on the Isfahan City Center Complex. Employing a descriptive-analytical method, the research adopts a qualitative approach and a case strategy research design. Data collection involves self-examination through semi-structured interviews with open-ended questions and purposive sampling. The interviews, conducted with 20 participants aged 20 to 30 who visited the Isfahan City Center Complex, sought to achieve theoretical saturation. Thematic analysis (TA) technique using Atlas ti.8 Software was applied to analyze the interview data. The findings underscore the influential role of physical-spatial, social-cultural, functional-activity, and individual dimensions in shaping environmental preferences through the youth's perspectives on the Isfahan City Center Complex.

Urban regeneration is a comprehensive and integrated approach, emphasizing the expansion of intergroup relationships through voluntary associations, clubs, unions, and typically local and non-governmental groups. This applied research aims to assess the desirability of social participation in the reconstruction of the historical neighborhood of Soro. Utilizing a descriptive-analytical methodology, this study is designed to evaluate the desirability of the social participation component in redeveloping the historical context of Soro from the perspective of local residents. The information was collected through library studies, employing a questionnaire and interviews. The sample size consists of 400 local residents, and for data analysis, SPSS software and the factor analysis method were employed. Through content analysis and a review of various sources and theoretical texts, indicators were extracted and classified into four groups: internal, relatively internal, external, and relatively external indicators. The results revealed that 44% of social indicators are most influenced by internal factors, followed by 28% for cultural indicators, 16% for physical indicators, and 12% for economic indicators, respectively.

In the context of Hamadan, recognized as a significant new urban center in the country, substantial challenges in urban management processes have emerged, encompassing both organizational and external dimensions. Recent years have witnessed mismanagement in service delivery, spatial injustices, physical-spatial disparities, lack of transparency in presenting plans and programs, and an increase in civic problems, exacerbating issues within the city. This complex scenario has the potential to escalate into serious regional crises. Acknowledging the urgency of addressing this matter and emphasizing the need for regional studies, the present research investigates the indicators of good governance in Hamadan, categorized by different regions. Employing a descriptive-analytical approach and utilizing a quantitative method, the study involves experts from the Hamadan management team, with a sample size of 35 individuals. The research findings, analyzed through average test models in SPSS software and the TOPSIS multi-criteria decision-making model in MATLAB software, reveal that the good governance indicators in Hamadan are not in a desirable state, particularly with districts 3 and 2 facing severe deficiencies in urban governance indicators.